Strauss is one of the most influential American immigrants who achieved self-made success. Through constant work and his thirst for taking risks, Levi Strauss gradually became one of the most notable citizens of California in the late 19th century. He used his name for one of the best-known clothing brands, now known worldwide for its quality jeans: Levi Strauss & Co. Levi Strauss, his first name being Loeb, was born on February 26, 1829 , in Buttenheim, Germany. His own family had their own family business selling dried goods, and several of his father's sons maintained it after leaving Germany. As the family was Jewish, the United States offered them freedom and better opportunities to expand their business. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay During the year 1849, gold was discovered outside of Sacramento, California, attracting hundreds of fortune hunters to the location. As this frenzy continued, Levi's sister Fanny traveled to San Francisco with her husband to open a haberdashery business. Learning of this decision, Strauss sailed for California, carrying dry goods donated by his brother. After arriving in San Francisco, Levi started his own wholesale business, first called Levi Strauss, acting as an agent for his half-brothers. Most of his shipments included denim work pants or the fabric itself. Then the goods were sold to miners, but when more families arrived in San Francisco, the company decided to add clothing separately for women and children. Little by little, he built a reputation for selling quality products at reasonable prices. Within 12 years, Strauss had become one of the most successful dry goods companies in California, as his business continued to expand. The first work pants he sold were canvas, but Strauss later moved to denim. These pants were just one of Levi Strauss & Company's many products, ranging from jackets to boots. As Levi Strauss & Co. grew, management changed as Strauss' nephews began to get into the business and take on more responsibility. This occurred when his brother-in-law, David Stern, died in 1874. Nevertheless, Levi continued to make important decisions for the company while his nephews managed the operations. Over the next few years, his fortune grew as well: an 1877 report indicated that Levi Strauss was worth more than $4 million. In 1902, illness affected Strauss and he took a vacation to try to regain his health. However, his condition worsened and he died peacefully in his sleep on the night of September 26. One invention that Levi Strauss & Co. was known for was its riveted jeans. This was an important moment in Strauss' career, as this pair of jeans would go on to inspire other companies around the world, such as American Eagle, Wrangler, and even Diesel. It started with another man who would ultimately be the first to come up with the idea for riveted jeans. It was a man, who was a tailor from Nevada, named Jacob Davis. Similar to Strauss, Davis was also a Jewish immigrant, and in 1872 he had sent Levi Strauss a letter describing the improvements he had made to denim pants. Some points that caught Strauss' attention were how the stitching was stronger near the pockets and fly, which convinced him to obtain a patent from.